raw cards
 

ter I started getting back into the hobby a couple years ago I was buying exclusively raw cards both at shows and on eBay. But after reading about all the horror stories of people doctoring cards I'm now getting them slabbed I don't want to take the chance of buying raw cards. I would like to get the thoughts of those people who buy only raw cards and what kind of steps they take to make sure that they're not altered.

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I buy a mixed bag of both but most of my purchases are low value commons so the likely hood of them being fakes is quite slim, imo.

If I were a big roller and was spending thousands on a card, then by all means, I want it slabbed, but that still doesn't guarantee it is authentic based on what I have learned since I joined here, sadly. :(

Heard the horror stories about slabbed cards?

exactly.

Do any of y'all feel confident enough to judge for yourself whether a car has been doctored using magnifying glass, black lights, rulers Etc

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Buy low grade cards.

I think most of the folks on this board would make a routine purchase (50-100 or so) without a loop, lack light or ruler. But most folks here have collected more than a decade or two. I seldom buy graded, because I think it's a rigged game. I do get fooled every once and a while. I made a mistake on an $90 altered card recently that had had a solvent used on it that I had not seen before, but the guys on the board called my attention to it. Did I mention it was a graded card?

Absolutely, especially with all that.

Now many autos... no sir, not yet.

Yes, on almost any card without any of that. Some of the more obscure issues would be a bit of a challenge, but over time you get a feel for what's "right" and what isn't. With the magnifier etc I'd be more confident.

Steve B